What is this ? Bouzouki ?

SirJackdeFuzz

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Is it a Bouzouki, octave Mandolin, or something else ?
 
Re: What is this ? Bouzouki ?

Irish Cittern.

 
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Re: What is this ? Bouzouki ?

FWIW - I'm reading that a Cittern is 10-string, Octave Mandolin is 8-string and Greek Bouzouki is 6-string, though the terms are known to be used interchangeably.
 
Re: What is this ? Bouzouki ?

Irish Cittern.



Thank you very much for the fast response.

I take they are EXPENSIVE :(
 
Re: What is this ? Bouzouki ?

My first instinct was to say it's an Irish bouzouki, but the cittern and the octave mandolin are so similar that it can be hard to distinguish the three.
 
Re: What is this ? Bouzouki ?

Def. not a bouzouki.

They are either 6 or 8 stringed (but strings are in pairs so effectively 3 or 4) but their bodies look nothing like this, they are more teardrop-shapped with no angles like so:
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Re: What is this ? Bouzouki ?

Might be some sort of oud. I'm getting on the octave mando.
I want one pretty bad. I could use it in SCA bardic stuff with less B.S.ing.
 
Re: What is this ? Bouzouki ?

Looks like a Bouzouki to me. Try looking at the Hobgoblin Music UK website for more info on these types of instruments.

though the terms are known to be used interchangeably.

^This is true. Sometimes it's just a matter of how the instrument is tuned.
 
Re: What is this ? Bouzouki ?

This thread got me looking again. I think it's an octave Mandolin, although a student Bouzouki is very similar (and far less adorned than the ones in the pic). My guess of Oud was not even close :)

May look at Oscar Schmidt/Samick. They make a ton of stuff like this.
 
Re: What is this ? Bouzouki ?

It's a bouzouki. She might have it tuned differently than the Greek version, and if it's the Irish way, it's a long scale octave mandolin in practical terms.

Citterns always have five double courses. Irish bouzoukis might either have octaves on the two low strings, or may be paired up with two of the same octave on them.
 
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Re: What is this ? Bouzouki ?

Guys, being Greek I've seen more Bouzoukia than I'd care for and I've never seen anyone even close to it, at least not a Greek one.
It's too fat on the lower bout and the sound hole is too small and round, like you can see on the photo I posted above bouzoukia don't have sound holes like guitars, theirs are bigger and more elliptical (sometimes with an EMG SA or similar stuck at the end of the fretboard).

Also, AFAIK (but take this with a grain of salt) at least all the serious (non-beginner) ones are hand-made, don't know of a company that mass-produces them (at least in both quality and quantity) but there are still quite a lot lutherie-shops that custom build them from very simple and inexpensive (still not cheap) to very elaborate and expensive.
 
Re: What is this ? Bouzouki ?

There's a few companies in USA and yerp that make period instruments for people like me who are in reenactment. I'm now looking for a crwth or rebec so I can join the local harpers guild.
 
Re: What is this ? Bouzouki ?

I thought, in the beginning, it might be an octave Mando (because of the four pair of strings - 8 total).

Then, when i looked at octave Mando's on the net, they all looked shorter than the one she is holding.

Maybe an Extended octave Mando ?
 
Re: What is this ? Bouzouki ?

Possibly mandocello? I'm reading those run 22" - 25" scale.

Tough question for a guitar crowd. ;-) I've attended mandolin festivals and am aware of the different kinds and some international equivalents like the Chinese Ruan, but can't claim expertise just from that experience.

Who is she? Why not ask her?
 
Re: What is this ? Bouzouki ?

It's obviously not a Greek bouzouki. I don't think anyone is saying that, as it's nowhere close to such an instrument. It's an Irish one, or something related to it.
 
Re: What is this ? Bouzouki ?

Possibly mandocello? I'm reading those run 22" - 25" scale.

Tough question for a guitar crowd. ;-) I've attended mandolin festivals and am aware of the different kinds and some international equivalents like the Chinese Ruan, but can't claim expertise just from that experience.

Who is she? Why not ask her?

Sadly, i can not find the link any more . . . i am trying to re-locate her home page.
 
Re: What is this ? Bouzouki ?

Sadly, i can not find the link any more . . . i am trying to re-locate her home page.


OK, i just found her name again : Heather Frahn


https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Heather+Frahn


 
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